WATERVILLE – Norman Ives Straffin, 79, of Waterville passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 23, 2025, of cancer.

He was born in Brockton, Mass. on Oct. 8, 1945, the son of Elton and Bernice (Ives) Straffin. Norman was a Mayflower descendant and belonged to the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. Norman attended schools in Brockton and graduated from Wentworth Institute and Northeastern University. Norman was a component engineer for Raytheon Co. in Foxboro, Mass. and a member of the IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.

Later, Norm opened Straffin’s Coffee Shop where he met Margaret “Marge” Doherty, his loving wife of 46 years. Then, Norman and Marge opened the popular Bostonian Restaurant in Hemet, Calif., later re-built to become Frog’s. Norm and Marge resided at their Hemet mountain home that he built. Norm obtained his general contractors license and started the Straffin Development Co. and was a home builder in the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area. Norm was the exclusive builder for the Secret Service agents for President Ford in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He later obtained his California real estate broker’s license and with Marge, formed the Inland Cities Mortgage Co., providing buyers with in-house financing.

In 2004, Norm and Marge settled in Maine, a state they long cherished. He was a member of the Capital Area Housing Association, and acquired rental properties throughout the Kennebec and Androscoggin counties. He also did inspections for Underwriter’s Inspection Services.

Norman was an avid hiker, cyclist, and member of the Wiscasset Yacht Club. He was playful (a big kid, really), fun-loving, generous, patriotic, and compassionate, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Vernon; first wife, Carol Straffin, second wife, Margaret Straffin; and his best buddy, Greg Rackliff.

He is survived by his daughter, Leah Hart, son-in-law Robert Rose, and grandchildren Taylor and Thomas Hart; his sister, Pauline Straffin; his nephew Wayne Straffin, nephew, Mark Straffin and wife Candace, and several nephews and nieces; also by his beloved cat “Pooper”; and last but not least his fiancée, Barbara Aronie-McPherson, the “love of his life.”

Donations in Norm’s memory can be made to either of his favorite charities:

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

262 Danny Thomas Place

Memphis TN 38105 or

Tunnels to Towers

2361 Hylan Blvd.

Staten Island, NY 103067